Stacking Suzuribako with 20 ink boxes, Japan Edo period18th century

Very unique court stacking suzuribako (inkstone box) with 20 boxes, each containing an inkstone and a cherry blossom-shaped dropper.
The 20 boxes are arranged in two stacks closed by a shared lid and placed on a tray with small wheels.
Designed for the poetic games practiced at the imperial court, this exceptional object combines both refinement and functionality.
Each box was distributed to the participants, following the codified rules of waka poetry competitions.
The decoration, composed of extremely fine plant motifs in gold powder lacquer using the ira maki-e and taka makie-e techniques, embellished with kirikane and small silver spheres to catch the light, demonstrates great craftsmanship.
The floral decoration, particularly irises near a stream, evokes spring, as do the cherry blossom-shaped droppers.
In its style and technique, this multiple suzuribako is similar to a box for the incense game, another court game, preserved at the Tokugawa Museum in Nagoya and evoking autumn.
This piece is extremely rare: we know of no other example with so many compartments and in such a well-preserved condition. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has one with five compartments.
Dimensions
25.3cm x 21.5cm x 19cm